Esopus History Day

FOR  IMMEDIATE   RELEASE                                                                    Contact:  Lana Chassman
Director of Public Relations                                                                        [email protected]                                                                                                845.338.0071, ext. 15
 
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES ON ESOPUS HISTORY DAY

Saturday, March 21 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm

KINGSTON, NY -- Through the generosity of a grant recently given by the Kingston Lions Club Foundation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum and The Reher Center of Immigrant Culture and History, jointly, the first in a series of oral history programs is scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at the Esopus Town Hall.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum has been working with the Town of Esopus, the Klyne Esopus Museum and the Esopus Town Historian to organize this event. 

Current or one-time residents of Esopus are asked to bring any photos, objects and especially their memories related to the history of the Hudson River, Rondout Creek and any river-related industries to the Town Hall.  The equipment purchased with the foundation grant will be used to record these precious memories on “Esopus History Day”.

Among the topics that may be focused on by attendees could be:  tugboats, commercial fishing, ice harvesting and ice houses, brick making, steamboats, ice boating, Hudson River sloops, ferry services, agriculture, and even living and shopping on the Rondout.

More in-depth oral history recordings can be scheduled at a later date.

A topic of special interest is the Rondout Lighthouses since 2015 marks the third Rondout Lighthouse’s 100th birthday.  The Museum will be featuring the Rondout Lighthouse as well as all Hudson River Lighthouses in its annual exhibition, “Lighthouses of the Hudson”, opening to the public on Saturday, May 2, at 11:00 am.  

Any images of the 1837 and 1867 lighthouses (both near or on the Port Ewen side) would be especially useful as the Museum has only a few photographs of the 1867 structure and only one image of the 1837 lighthouse.  A scanner will be available for anyone who wishes to share digital images, and the Museum’s Curator, Allynne Lange, will be present to accept any donations which would supplement the Museum’s collections.

Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.  For more information, please contact Education Director,Sarah Wassberg, at 845.338.0071, ext. 16 or [email protected].